No work, no pay, warns Speaker

Convenes all-party meet on Thursday to discipline MPs

NEW DELHI: MPs disrupting parliamentary proceedings at the drop of a hat have reasons to worry. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has decided to discipline the erring MPs by introducing a 'no work, no pay' policy.

To rein in unruly members, an all-party meeting has been convened by the Speaker here on Thursday to discuss the growing tendency of MPs to disrupt Parliament and suggest steps to ensure smooth running of the House.

The Speaker is expected to advise the government that all policy statements during the sessions should be made in Parliament. Expressing concern over the unruly behaviour of some members, Chatterjee said Parliament lost 12 hours and 49 minutes due to interruptions and adjournments last week. This means a loss of over Rs.1.87 crore to the exchequer.

If Chatterjee's proposal has consensus across the political spectrum, MPs who rush into the well of the House and force adjournment of the House will not be entitled to their allowance of Rs 1,000 per sitting (per day).